Sex is a taboo topic.

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I have experienced a wide range of health education at both the middle and high school levels. I have listened to long rants about exercise, nutrition and basic human anatomy. But I have never been truly educated about sexual health in a classroom setting.

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Sex education has been a part of health curriculum in American schools for more than a century.

As early as 1993, it was mandated in 47 states, but its standards have only declined with only 39 states mandating the teaching of sexual education.

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My experience with health education has been scattered - and largely beyond the USD 497 norm. I attended a small private school through eighth grade that while innovative with its curriculum was not aligned with the required standards of public education. I only learned the basic anatomy of the human body.

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When I was signing up for high school classes, Lopted to take the Maize Academy online health course, which was available to all incoming freshmen at both Lawrence High and Free State High School. There were many students who chose to take this instead of the regular class because of its convenience.

I did not have high expectations, but this course was simply unacceptable.

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The majority of the sexual education unit comprised fear-mongering students into abstinence.

Not only did they preach abstinence as the only effective birth control method, but they described the day in the life of a teen mom, detailing the bleak days of raising a child at 16. While doing thorough coverage of the impact of STI's, the sole purpose was to instill fear in us as students.

 

There was one mention of a condom, but there was no mention of female contraception. There was also no mention of sexuality and gender identity. The description of the curriculum itself is to "delay sexual activity," focusing on the potential outcome of unprotected sex instead of how to protect yourself in the mist place.

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According to the CDC around 40% of teens have engaged in sexual activity. Having a sexually comprehensive education is essential for our safety.

STI's do exist and pregnancy can occur, but it can be prevented with contraception and awareness.

 

We do fire drills for a reason.

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The Maize program is no longer offered to students in USD 497. Students now have the option to take the course Physical Education and Health over the summer through Lawrence Virtual School. Although sexual health is unit in their curriculum, so is sexual abstinence.

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Lawrence High School provides a basic outline of what is required for a comprehensive health education that online alternatives just don't match. 

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Yet these programs are not only offered but often encouraged for students by both counselors offering alternative options and by other students who have taken the program who have no awareness of the potential harm of experiencing an inefficient health education.

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Furthermore these are the recovery programs offered to students who have already failed the class. These students should require a high-quality curriculum — not an inferior one. If we are going to offer alternative methods of health education, all students deserve equal access to the quality required by the district.

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PE is not enough for health education. Neither is alarmism. This has been acknowledged for decades, and it's about time all programs across Kansas step up to the plate.